Derby Evening Telegraph 12 April 1991William (100) has never had a holiday PENSIONER William Barrett is living proof that hard work never hurt anyone.
The Ilkeston ex-Army sergeant has reached his 100th birthday without ever having a holiday.
The last time Mr Barrett saw the sea was in 1918 when he landed at Dover after serving in the First World War.
His youngest son Charles said: "He has never seen the sea since and says he isn’t bothered if he never sees it again.
"He’s never been away on holiday but it doesn’t seem to have done him any harm.
Neither does the pipe that he still smokes or the odd drink that he has now and again."
Besides serving in the Army, Crich-born Mr Barrett worked as a blacksmith, a farm labourer and a civil engineer.
Now life for the widower is spent quietly at the home in Nesfield Road which he shares with Charles (62) and daughter- in-law Doreen (61).
The family celebrated Mr Barrett’s birthday yesterday with a get-together with the pensioner’s other son Henry (64), his four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Derby Evening Telegraph 16 August 1994William's hard, long and happy life
FORMER Army sergeant William Barratt
has died aged 103– after a lifetime of hard work and no holidays.
Mr Barratt, formerly of Mapperley village, spent his last 12 years living with his son Charles (65) and daughter-in-law Doreen (65) in Ilkeston.
He died in the town's Community Hospital on Thursday after an 11-day stay.
Mrs Barratt, of Nesfield Road, said her father-in-law was a popular man known to many in the town.
She said: "He was always a hard worker during his time in the Army, as a blacksmith, down the pit and on farms– he never had a holiday.
"He was a real character. If he something to say he said it and didn't mind who heard.
"He was very active until about two months agowhen he became ill. He really enjoyed his life."
Crich-born Mr Barratt, who was widowed fourteen year ago, has one other sone Henry (67), four grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren
.
The funeral is to take place at Mapperley Church, Mapperley Lane. tomorrow at 2.30pm.